New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-01-12

|, iaw 70 new roads, the spurs ana brancils. buirs
for the old roads. as direct part OF their sys-5
TENS and regularly operated with them as part
OF one property or railroad, are rule built by
extended to new roads. In this way it happens
That While the gross earnings in the state for the
past year increased $25s, O95.sl the taxes. or
percentage in lieu Of taxes decreased Sc. $780,
| 81 In view OF these facts. ana of the large
amount of property held by the railroad COM
panies exempt from taxation. recommend that
the law be amended so as to compel all railroad
lines hereafter to be built and operatedlto pay
to the state the full three per centum on their
gross earnings. in lieu of taxes, from the start.
| TAXATION OF RAILROAD LANDS.
The large quantities of lands held by the yari-
GUS railroad companies free from taxation is q
subject which has attracted the attention Of the
preston In the minds Of many that some action
can or ought to be taken looking to the taxation
OF such lands. They lie largely in the more
sparsely settled portions Of the state where the
people are struggling against great odds to
make homes for themselves and their posterity.
Court houses and other county buildings are to
III short. all the necessary adjuncts to thriving
community are to be called into being by the
I eHorts and money Ct the hardy pioneer. Every
other section, more, perhaps Of the land in the
county or district in which he has settled be-
longs to some one OF these giant corporations,
tribute farthing to the improvement which is
constantly and rapidly enhancing the value OF
It's holdings; The question OF the taxability Of
these lands has been in a number of cases and
in different forms before our supreme court In
almost every such instance the state has been
met with the provisions contained in the char
Jefs OF these companies, which grant immunity
from tavatlon until sale OF CONVEYANCE OF such
lands. 1t is for you to thoroughly Investigate
the status OF such lands and see if there is anv
way by which you obtain relief to the people
IN this matter
GRAIN STORAGE BY RAILROAD COMPANIES.
In connection with the legislation proposed by
the railroad and warehouse commission, I would
suggest for your consideration whether it is not
both right and practicable that the railway
companies, which handle nearly all of the grain
raised for market in the state. should not be re-
directly upon delivery to them. to furnish
storage for it in elevators grain houses al the
stations where the grain is received for ship
ment, free of expense to the shipper Is there
any sound reason for making grain an exception
to the general rule that common carriers shall
receive freight, and, if not shipped at once, shall
shipment until ready to be delivered to the con-
signee? That such a requirement would involve
the companies IN much expense and no little
Inconvenience at first must be admitted; and if
the system should be 1naugurated reasonable
| time should certainly be given the companies
to furnish suitable storage structures The
proposed plan might to a limited extent. dis
place elevators and grain houses now employed
by other companies or persons, but I doubt if
It's effect in this direction would be material. The
greater part OF the grain now received by such
houses Is not delivered for transportation but
is either sold for cash or receipts are taken by
| the producer with intent to sell at future
day and without shipping from the receiving
station. Were the plan suggested to be put in
operation it is not perceived that it would inter-
fere with the facilities for buying, receiving
storing of grain wherever such traffic is could
be carried on, but it would certainly stimulate
railroad companies to provide, as far as posi-
Bile, the necessary cars for the Immediate ship
ment of grain as offered. No grain, OF course
would be delivered to the companies but such
as the owners desired to have Immediately
shipped. The most OBVIOUS reason for making
grain an exception to tie rule in sections where
raised IN great abundance is that the bulk OF the
crop intended for sale is thrown upon the mar
ket within a. few months after harvest, and
hence it would be unreasonable to require the
companies to provide the necessary transporta-
tion to move it in SO limited a time, or to store
IL for want of cars to haul it away. But the
wheat farmer becomes more forehanded. and is
not compelled to realize on his crop immed-
lately, he will largely provide for his own stor-
age, and this objection would soon be greatly
diminished. In this connection it would be W III
to consider whether the objections to the pro-
posed plan are not to some extent founded on a
participation in the elevator profits by some OF
the officers or managers OF the roads. rather than
on the plan ITSELF
Whether or not these suggestions should be
considered by you worthy to be formulated into
legal enactment, have no hesitation in rec
| ommending such legislation as will make it a
penal cfIense for any person owning, operating
or managing railroad in the state to partici-
pate in any profits derived from an elevator,
grain house. wood or coal yard located on the
line OF his road.
WHEAT GRADING.
One Of the most frequent and serious CON-
plants among wheat producers and dealers in
grain ia the difficulty OF procuring anything like
uniform grades at different times and places
too often, indeed at the same time and place
wi nuf nf thn cnyrnk Ind md 1jrx Tbo
railroad and warehouse commissioners have
done much to lessen the evil but there is still
inspection should be made by persons not only
disinterested in the result. but without knowl-
edge of the ownership of the grain of the prob
able purchaser-or, indeed, of the person or per-
sons interested in commissions on it. Under
conditions of this kind am satisfied that the
surprising and inexpicable differences in otficia!
would rarely occur. Every avenue to dishonest
practices should be closed by the law where pos
sihle. With the door to favoritism lett open,
dissatisfaction will prevail, even in the absence
OF actual fraud
WATERING STOCKS.
legislation proposed by the commissioners to
prevent the issuing Of false. fraudulent and un-
paid stock by railroad companies, and to regu-
late proceedings in the matter of increasing
their capital stock. 1t appears to me that the
proposed bill is well calculated to suppress the
evil Of watering stocks by railroad corporations,
trick by which fictitious capital is created, and
upon which the people required TO pay divi-
dends This method of diluting and expanding
its very vastness and it's absolute control bya
few persons.-sometimes practically by ore
man,-costs the producing classes Of the
country many millions annually. There can ex-
ist no moral claim to dividends on watered
stock, and there should exist no legal right to
such dividends.
CHEAP PASSENGER FARES
Cheap passenger fares on our railroads. though